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(No Model.) 4 lsheets#-sixeef 2. 0.*0. HODGDON.

DISHGLEANER. No. 498,549.

Patented May so, 189s.

'V 4 lSheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

DISH CLEANER.

Patentv'ed May 30', 1893.

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(No 1940441.)l 4 sneelts-sheet 4. 'I

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DISH CLEANER. v

No. 498,549. -Pamted May-30,1893.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR/O. HODGDON, OF S'I. LOUIS-MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY H. DARBY, OF SAME PLACE.

DISH-CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1vo.499,549,aaa May 3o, 1893. Appncauon nea July so, 1892. seran No. 441.693. t or@ moan.)

To all whom it may con/cern.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR O. HODGDON, of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dish-lVashing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forininga part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in a dish-washing machine, and consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and designated in the claims.

The object of my invention is to construct a machine operated by steam or other power transmitted thereto which cleanses the dishes by passing then1 through a course of continuously agitated sprays of hot water, and rinses them by the same devices carrying them through clean hot Water.

My improved dish-washing machine is especially adapted for use in hotels, restaurants, and in fact in any establishment where it will pay to substitute this method for the old one.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of my complete invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail View, showing the gearing and endless discharge conveyer, with other parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a complete top plan View of my device. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View of a portion of the endless conveyer. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of same. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section view taken on a line ocx of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is an elevation of one end of the device.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the opposite end.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the other side of my complete invention. Fig. l0 is a View in perspective of the spray-pipes and their various connections. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic end view of the pipe-connections from the basin through the pump to the spray-pipes. Fig. 12 is a transverse cross-section view of one of the rods, and a rubbencushion covering same.

Referring to the drawings: 1 indicates my complete invention, the parts of which are supported and carried by a frame-work consisting essentially of longitudinal pieces 2 and 3 secured to upright pieces 4, 5 and 6 and other intermediate posts as hereinafter de;

scribed. The frame-work is similar in construction upon both sides of the machine,vand connected together by suitable cross pieces.

Secured between the sides of thefraIne-work and to the horizontal pieces 2 and 3 is a tub or vat 7, made in any suitable manner so as to be perfectly water-tight. Said tub 7 is surmounted by a casing 8, which consists of two boards 9 which are rfastened upon the horizontal pieces 2 and held in place by posts 10 and 11, secured to said horizontal pieces 2 and 3, and projecting a suitable distance above same to cover the Width'of the board 9. The top 12 of the casingS is provided with an opening 13 to which a removable lid is iitted to facilitate the inspection of the interior ofthe casing 8. A narrow projecting board 14 is secured to and extends from one end of the top piece 12, and from which may be suspended a suitable curtain to prevent the water, which is agitated in the interior of the casing 8 from sprinkling outside. A curtain may be also placed at the opposite end of the casing 8 to serve the same purpose.

At a point midway between the casing 8 and the opposite end of theframe-work is secured a shell or basin 15, the sides of which converge only toward the ends of the Inachine; in other words, said basin 15 has only. two sides and a bottom 16. The basin is supported 'by suitable braces 17 which are secured upon the horizontal pieces 3. A pipe 18 has an outlet 19 in the bottom of said basin 15, and said basin is alsoprovided with an inlet and outlet port by which water is either allowed to run in or run outA of the basin according to the desire of the operator.

As will be seen in Fig. 1 an endless con` veyer is one of the principal features of my invention. In construction the endless conveyer 2O consists of horizontal shafts or bars 21 having wheelsor rollers 22 mounted near each end, the projecting portion 23 of said shafts or rods -21 being provided with eX-.

terior screw-threads upon which nuts 24 are adapted to be constructed. The construction of this endless conveyer 20 is what is cont monly termed a sprocket-chain. Two of these shafts 21 are connected together at their ends by a link-bar 25 which is held thereon by IOO the nuts 24. Two of these pairs of shafts are then secured together by a link-bar 26 which is fastened upon the ends of the shafts 21 and over the link-bars 25. It will be seen that by the use of this construction the chain is rendered in such a condition that in an endless form it will adjust itself to the necessary angles when in operation. The brackets or standards 27 which are mounted upon the rods 21, and by means of which the dishes are carried along by the conveyer 20 is formed of one piece of wire bentin the form as shown in Fig. of the illustration and is practically ls-shaped in cross-section. The loops 28 formed in the middle of the two portions of wire tit over one rod 21, while the rounded ends 29 are hooked upon the next adjoining rod 2l. It will be seen that by this constructhat the straight portion 30 intermediate of the loop 28 and the hook 29 guarantees an upright position of the bracket 27, and in any position which the conveyer 2O may attain, thesanie is at right angles with the rod 21. By referring to Fig. 5 of the illustration, the manner in which the same are placed upon the rod will be more readily understood.'

Premising that the rollers 22 have been properly secured upon the shaft 2l While the other end is as yet free from the application of any parts, I will describe the manner in which the construction is completed. First a tubular piece of metal 31 is slipped over the rod 21 and placed adjacent. the roller 22. Two of the complete brackets 27 are then placed thereon,that is the hooked ends 29 of of one bracket are placed outside of and adjacent the loops 28 of the other one, and in the'operation of placing the same on the rod a piece of rubber-tubing 32 is slipped between the two loops 23 upon ythe bracket 27. An additional piece of rubber-tubing 32 is then placed between said rows of brackets 27 and the next row, the construction ofveach being similar throughout the length of the conveyer 20. Additional rows of brackets 27 in alignment with each other are then secured on the rods 21 and after the last row has been tted in place a piece of metal tubing such as 31 is placed between the bracket 27 and the roller 22 which is then secured upon the other end in a suitable and removable manner. It will readily be seen that by this construction the complete conveyerconsists of a number of upright brackets in longitudinal and vertical alignment, with a speciiied space between each row of brackets, and that the tubular pieces of metal 31 adjoining the brackets at each side serve to control the spring of same and keep them in a stationary position, while the rubber-tubing 32 acts as a cushion upon which the dishes can fall without being broken or cracked. Y

The endless conveyer travels in a certain position and is controlled by the Wheels 22 which adj ust themselves to a track consisting of parts as follows, and as best shown in Fig. 6 or the illustration. As hereinafter described, the motion is imparted to the conveyer by sprocket-wheels, and the guide or track starts from one end at the Wheels 33, near the discharge end of the machine and conforms with the various angles and planes attained in the construction of the machine. The track 34 starting from the wheel 33 is secured upon the side 35 of the machine and follows in alignment with the drip-board 36 which runs at a slight depending angle int-o the basin 15. It follows and conforms to the angles of the basin 15 above the bottom of which is secured a lug or block 37 to prevent the undue straining of the conveyer at that point Where the depression is so great that the consequent straining of the conveyer in operation requires an additional guide. The track 34 then passes at an upward angle at the same conformed distance from the bottom of the basin 15 until it strikes a point immediately' above the drip board 38. It then extends in a horizontal position over the drip-board 33, tub 7 and drip-board 39 to a point adjacent the sprocket-Wheel 40. Itis then secured upon a construction of timbers 41, 42 and 43, and which it follows underneath the machine and back to the sprocket-wheel 33 in the following manner. It extends downwardly to the post and then in a horizontal direction below the tub 7 and basin 15, and from a point under said basin it eX- tends upwardly to the sprocket-wheels 33, and it Will be seen that this entire construction, including the sprocket-wheels 33 and 40 forms a complete guide or track under which the rollers 22 travel. The construction and position of the track being similar upon both sides of the machine and in horizontal alignment throughout guarantees the adjustment of the conveyer 20.

The timbers 41, 42 and 43 upon which the tened to the side frame-work of the machine as shown in Fig. 6 of the illustrations.

By reference to Fig. 9. it will be seen that the power to run the pump which forms one ofthe features of my invention, the endless conveyer and the discharge belt 44 is imparted to the machine by means of a belt 45 running from a shaft-pulley to the pulley 46. Said pulley or driving-wheel 46 is mounted upon a shaft 47 which runs through an ordinary rotary-pump 4S, and mounted upon the same shaft is a small pulley 49. A pulley 50 is mounted adjacent the side of the machine and upon a shaft 51 upon which a roller 52, thelength of the inside of the frame-work, is also mounted with -said shaft mounted in suitable bearings provided. At the opposite side of the machine, and upon the end of said shaft 5l is a small sprocket-wheel 53 -which is connected with a larger wheel 5410- cated upon a shaft 55 in suitable bearings secured upon the sides 35 of the machine. Said wheel 54 is also a sprocket-wheel and connected with the smaller wheel 53 by a link-chain 56, and the operation of which I IOO track or a portion thereof is secured are fasneed not further detail as it is already well known. The object of constructing this portion of the machine as described, with the sprocket-wheel 54 larger than the wheel 53 from which the power isindirectly obtained is that it is necessary for the shaft 55 upon which said wheel 54 is mounted and which has also a sprocket-wheel 33 mounted thereon, from which the power to run the conveyer 2O is directly transmitted, to run slower than the source of power to conform to the speed at which it is desired torun the conveyer 20.

There are two sprocket-wheels 33 mounted upon tho'shaft 55 in such a position thatthe teeth of same engage' the rods 21 at a point immediately within the rollers 22 and upon the metal tubing 31 upon said rods 21, when the conveyer 20 is in position. I

A shaft 57 located in bearings 58-secured in a horizontal position upon the ends of the timbers 2 of the frame-work, and vat the opposite end of the machine has two sprocketwheels 40 mounted thereon in a relatively similar position to the sprocket-wheels 33 upon the shaft 55, and the operation of which is the same. It will therefore be readily seen that when the endless conveyer 20 is in position it follows the outline of the track 24 shown in Fig. 6 and constantly moves in its plane.- I will now proceed to describe the construction of the discharge-belt 44 and the table and parts connected therewith. A projecting table 59 extends outwardly from the machine and is built therewith, and has constructed at rightangles to sameatable 60. At a point which I term the outer end of the table 59 is located aroller 6l, the end of which being the one at the corner of the table is slightly elevated above the other end for purposes more fully hereinafter described. A continuous canvas or rubber-conveyin gbelt 44 is adapted to travel upon said roller 61 and the roller 52 upon the shaft 5l by means of which motion is imparted to same. The positionof the roller 6l may be best understood by referring to Fig. 8 of the drawings and the tension of the belt 44 is controlled by a roller 62, which is adjustable in the following manner. It is mounted at beth ends upon bracket-bearings 63 provided with slots through which bolts 64 pass into the upright posts 5 of the frame-work. `Vhen it is desired to tighten the belt, the bolts are unloosened and the bracket-standard 63 is then pushed up thus raising the roller a desirable distance when the bolt 64 is again tightened and the other end of the roller at the other side of the machine similarly treated. The table 59 is level upon its outer sides, while the inner portion 65 is slanted convergingly toward the table 60, the function of such construction being to provide a plane upon which the dishes will assist themselves in passing onto the table 60. Projecting guides 66 and 67 in uniform alignment with each other are secured upon the tables 59 and 60 a slight distance abovesame to allow of the free movement of the belt 44 under same. The before mentioned driving-pulley 46 and pulley 49 t0- gether with a loose pulley 68 are mounted upon the shaft 47 which has its bearing upon one end in the' pump 48 and the other in a pillow-block 69. The tub 7 in which the hot soapy-water is kept projects outward from the back of the frame-work as shown in-Fig. 7 to facilitate the cleaning of same. 48 is secured upon arsuitable base 70 and is of the -ordinary rotary suction-pump style. The source of water-supply may either be the tub 7 or basin l5 to which water is conveyed fromsome outside source. The pipe l8 leading from the basin 15 to the tub 7 has a T- joint 71 therein from which an elbow-pipe 72 leads into the pump 48. A valve 73 between the pump 48 and the basin controls the pumping of water from the basin l5 while a valve 74 in said pipe 18 between the pump 48 and the tank 7 controls the pumping from said tank.- Leading from the pump upward is a pipe 75 connected by 'an elbow 76 to a horizontal pipe 77 and at a point in said pipe 77 is connected a T-joint 78 from which a horizontal pipe 79 leads to avertical pipe 8O upon the end of which is a T-joint 81, having two projecting pipes 82 fitted therein, and proper devices hereinafter described connected to the ends of same by elbows 83 for supplying the water to spray-pipes 84. The horizontal pipe 77 is connected by an elbow 85 with a vertical pipe 86 which extends upwardly outside of the casing 8 and is connected by an elbow 87 with a horizontal pipe 88 located in the top of said casing 8. The end of said pipe has connected therewith a horizontal pipe 89 at right angles with same upon which there is connected a T-coupling 90 at its end to which is connected projecting pipes 91 with similar devices 92 connecting with spraypipes 93 as in the construction previously dcscribed. charge opening 94, which is controlled by a pipe 95 leading therefrom which may be provided with a valve or other suitable means of controlling the discharge of the contents of the tank.

In operation the basin l5 is suppliedwith hot, clean water carried thereto by suitable pipes and finding' an inlet through one of the holes 96 in the vbottom of the basin l5. For the sake of economy the same wate'r is used again in the spray-pipes 84 and 93 afterit has been first mixed with soap in the tank 7. The clean water is allowed to till the basin 15. Then the pump is started and the tank 7 filled with same and then the valve 73 is closed so that the passage of water is direct from the tank 7 through the pum p 48 and to the spray-pipes 84 and 93 by means of pipes hereinbefore mentioned. The rocking spray-pipes 84 and 93 are revolubly mounted in the pipes 97 and 92 respectively to allow of the peculiar rocking motion which it is necessary for them to attain, and they are supported at the other The pump IOO The tank 7 has an outlet or disend by suitable hangers 98, having bearings into which the pipes 84 and 93 fit, and which are fastened upon the inner side of thelid 12 of the casing 8, and upon a block 99 immedi-` ately above the dripboard 39. Collars 100 with arms 101 are mechanically secured to each of the spray-pipes 84 and 93 of which there are two of each, and both pairs of spraypipes with collars 100 secured thereto have rocking-bars 102 and 103 pivotally secured to said arms 101. By referring to Fig. 6 of the illustration the relative position of the two sets of rocking spray-pipes 84 and 93 will best be understood. The rocking-bars 102 and 103 project outwardly through the casing 8 and have their free ends turned and iiattened to form mountings 104 and 105 to which are pivoted arms 106 and 107 removably mounted upon an upright rod 108 which is revolubly mounted in bearings 109 and 110 secured upon the outside of the casing 8 as shown in Fig. 9. The lever 107A connecting the end 105 of the rocking-bar 103 with the upright shaft 108 is in the form of a bell-crank lever, having an arm 111 formed at right angles therewith, the end of which connects with an eccentric rod 112, which connects with an eccentric 113 secured upon the shaft 47, and oy-means of which the peculiar rocking movement is irnparted first to the rod 108 thence to the rocking-arms 102 and 103 which are connected with the two sets of rocking spray-pipes 84 and 93. The spray-pipes are provided with nozzles 114, which project at'four different angles with each other, that is the nozzles depending from the spray-pipes 93 extend in different directions as follows: Alternate nozzles depend downwardly and outwardly while another row depend downwardly and inwardly, and a similar construction is used upon the spray-pipes 84 except in that they vproject upwardly instead of downwardly. 1t

will be seen that by this construction there are sprays of water thrown against the dishes upon the conveyer 20 in four different directions, two streams being forced by each spray,-

pipe in two different directions.

In describing the operation of my invention, I desire to say that the View shown in Fig. 1 is that of the rear of the machine, while the view shown in Fig. 9 is the front view of the machine, and these terms are applied because the machine is principally handled by the operator upon the side designated as the front.

As before described, the power to operate the pump 48, the sprays 84 and 93, the endless conveyer 20, and the endless dischargebelt 44 is furnished directly to a pulley 46 from an outside source.

' When the machine is started the basin 15 is lilled with hot-water, and the tank 7 is also filled with hot-water. Some soap is placed therein to make a strong suds, and a steampipe is inserted therein to keep the same hot. lVhen thel water in the tank 7 becomes dirty it is discharged through the opening 94, and

the water in the basin 15 previously used as rinse-water is pumped into the tank 7, and the basin 15 refilled with clean hot-water after the valve 73, which has been opened during the process of changing the water from the basin to the tank, is closed. Continuing with the operation it is premised that the valve 74 in said pipe 18 is open. Therefore the action of the pump forces the soapy water from the tank 7, into the spray-pipes 84 and 93 through the intermediate pipes as shown in Fig. 11. When the soapy-water in the tank 7 becomes dirty it is discharged through the opening 94,

and the water from the basin 15 is pumped therein and mixed with other hot water and soap, and the basin 15 is refilled.

It will be seen that the dishes are placed on the endless conveyer 20 at a point adjacent the casing 8 and the end of the machine. They are carried through the casing 8 and have innumerable sprays of hot soapy-water striking them both from the rocking spray-'pipes 84 acting underneath same, and from the rocking spray-pipes 93 which throw thewater onto the dishes from above. Still carried by the endless conveyer 20 they are conducted downward through the hot-water in the basin 15 and are thoroughly rinsed before they are carried out of same by the conveyer and thrown upon the continuously moving endless dischargebelt 44 which conducts them upon the table. The dishes are set upon their edges between the rows of standards or brackets 27 as shown `by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and when washing cups or bowls the same are placed over the brackets 27 and are held in this position from the time they are placed upon the conveyer until they reach a point where the conveyer turns upon its downward return movement when they are thrown onto the endless discharge-belt 44. The endless conveyer 20 travels downwardly and under the machine, and when the brackets'again resume their normal upright position after passing over the sprocket-wheels 40 the conveyer is again in position to receive the dishes. discharged from the conveyer upon the belt 44, said belt carries them with its movement until they strike the round proj ecting-guide 66 which turns them onto the table 60. The power is transmitted to operate the endless conveyer 20 and the discharge-belt 44 by the belt connecting the wheel 49 upon the shaft 47, with the pulley 50 upon the shaft 5l as hereinbefore described.

The connection between the spray-pipes 84 and 93, and the joints 92 and 97 into which they fit to allow the rocking motion peculiar to said spray-pipes can be made by the use of swivel-joints, packing-joints, or any mechanical devices which will allow of such motion.

The peculiar arrangement of the nozzles 114 upon the spray-pipes render them capable of not only covering every portion of the dish with the force of the streams from said nozzles, but the operation is repeated a great Vhen the dishes are number of times between the time the dishes upon the conveyor 20 enter one end of the casing 8 and go out at the other end.

With the pulley 46 running at an average speed of one hundred and fifty revolutions perminute, the spray-pipes would have just double the number of reciprocating movements applied thereto, and the large number of such movements and the force of the streams ejected by the nozzles prevent any possibility of a dish passing out from the casing 8 with any dirt thereon.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a dish washing machine, the combination, with a washing compartment provided with spraying means, a rinsing compartment, and a discharge-belt, of an endless conveyer passing through said washing or rinsing compartments, and adapted to deliver the cleansed dishes upon the discharge-belt; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a dish washing machine, the combination, with conveying and washing means, and a table for receiving the cleansed dishes, of an endless discharge-belt leading to said table and having its o uter bearing roller elevated outwardly, and a curved guide passing over the outer end of said belt and leading to the table; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A dish washing machine having an endless conveyer adapted to carry dishes in direct contact with a number of agitated sprays of water, through a hot-Water rinsing-basin, and to deliver same upon an endless discharge-belt, substantially as set forth.

4. In a dish Washing machine, the combi-Y nation, with a series of spray pipes loosely jou rnaled in position and provided with arms projecting a't right angles therefrom, and a rotary power shaft, of an arm coupling the spray-pipe arms, a bar carrying an arm pivotally connected with the free end of said coupling arm, and with an arm 111, and a pitman 112 connected with the latter and adapted to be reciprocated by an eccentric on said power shaft; substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 5. A dish Washing machine having an endless conveyer, consisting of a number of pieces of metal in continuous horizontal alignment, having mounted thereon a number of brackets, each bracket comprising a piece of wire bent tol form a loop in one end, loops 28 in the center of the two arms formed by bending said wire, to fit over the rods 21, the endsvv of said Wire hooked to engage over the next adjacent rod 21, rollers 22 mounted upon the ends of said rods, tubular pieces of metal 31 mounted upon said rodsibetween said rollers 22 and the first row of brackets 27 at both ends of said rods, tubular pieces of rubber 32 between said loops 28 and between the rows of brackets 27, said rods 21 connected in pairs by link-bars 25, said pairs thus formed oonnected by link-bars 26, said link-bars being held on said rods by nuts 24 screwed upon the ends 23, projecting beyond the rollers 22 on the rods 21, substantially as set forth.

6. A dish Washing machine having an endless discharge-belt, a shaft 51, a roller 52 mounted on said shaft 51, a roller 61 mounted upon a shaft inclined at an angle, the highest end of same being at the outer corner of the table 59, the lower end of said roller at a point where the table is joined with said table 59, a projecting-guide 66 immediately adjacent and above a discharge-belt 44, a guide 67 upon the table 60, and said guide 66 having a bent portion in its length above the belt 44 to direct the movement of the dishes thereon, substantially as set forth.V

7. A dish washing machine having spraypipes 84 and 93, joints 92 and 97 into which one end of said spray-pipes fit, bearings 98 into which the other ends t,'nozzles projecting from said spray-pipes at dierent angles, rocking-bars 102 and 103 pivoted to collars 100 immovably mounted upon said spraypipes, said upper rocking-bar 102 connected with an upright shaft 108 mounted in brackets 109 by an arm 106, a bell-crank-lever 107 connecting said lower rocking-bar 103 with a shaft 108 and an eccentric-rod 112 and a means furnished for operating said rockingbars 102 vand 103 and the spray-pipes connected therewith, substantially as set forth.

8. A dish washing machine having rocking spray-pipes, a shaft, rocking bars and levers connecting said pipes and shaft, a revolving eccentric, and an eccentric-rod mounted on the latter and adapted to revolve said shaft; substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR O. lHODGrDON.

Witnesses:

HERBERT S. ROBINSON, ALFRED A. EIcKs.

IOO 

